Devonwood Villas promotes carefree living

Sarah A. Worth Special Sections correspondent

Published: April 6, 2008

Updated: May 31, 2013 at 11:14 PM

Southern Crafted Homes officials think any preconceived ideas prospective buyers have about what a villa community looks like will change once they've seen the homes at Devonwood Villas in Land O' Lakes.
"They are unlike any other villa homes you'll find in the Tampa Bay area," says Zani Patasin, vice president of sales and marketing. "We have re-invented the meaning of villas with these homes."
What makes Devonwood different is that the villas look like estate homes, Patasin says.
"We've basically taken the footprint and general appearance of a 5,000-square-foot home and made it into two separate homes," he says.The lots have no backyard neighbors, garages are not all facing the street but are on the side or through courtyard entrances and varying architectural elevations keep the community from having the staccato look typically found when builders give home after home the same design, Patasin asserts.

These details and more help take the "this is a different kind of villa" concept further.
"There are no back-to-back lots at Devonwood and most of the lots look onto conservation land or lakes," Patasin says.
The one aspect that Devonwood Villas does share with villa communities is that it offers home buyers the ability to tap into a reduced maintenance lifestyle, Patasin says. For instance, Devonwood owners don't have to worry about lawn and exterior maintenance.
"A villa home and a villa-home community offer a carefree lifestyle not found in typical neighborhoods with typical houses," Patasin says. "Villas are the ideal home for so many types of buyers. Villas are especially ideal for buyers who live with packed schedules or unusual shifts and don't want the extra chores associated with a house."
To help promote a carefree lifestyle, Devonwood residents also have access to a community pool and a social center.
Inside the homes, residents enjoy open floor plans with large kitchens, formal dining rooms and fiber optic wiring through Verizon FIOS, Patasin says. Residents also can get decorating ideas and help at the Southern Crafted Homes' design center, he adds.
Five floor plans are available. Three offer two bedrooms and two bathrooms: the Chelsea provides 1,630 square feet of living space and is priced from $225,000; the Ascot offers 1,691 square feet of living space and is priced from $228,000; and the Newbury, priced from $236,000, has 1,776 square feet of living space.
The two other plans have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Brighton I has 1,885 square feet of living space and is priced from $254,000, while the Brighton II provides 2,023 square feet of living space and is priced from $266,000.
The third bedroom in the Brighton I and II is a flex space and can be built as an office or game room should the buyer choose.
To reach Devonwood Villas, take Interstate 75 to Exit 275 (State Road 56). Travel west and merge with State Road 54. Go about three miles; the community is on the right, about one mile west of U.S. 41.
"There just isn't any other kind of home product out there at this price point that compares to Devonwood," Patasin says. "And since Southern Crafted Homes typically builds custom luxury homes, the villas at Devonwood are definitely a great way to get a Southern Crafted Home product for a great price."
Southern Crafted Homes has been building homes in the Tampa Bay area for nearly two decades. Patasin says the locally owned company has made careful choices as it has grown, which has helped it flourish in the current real estate market, Patasin says.
"We have always employed conservative practices, we don't sell to investors, we maintain stable value with our property and we never over-laden ourselves with inventory."
He says its communities have fewer re-sales (low turnover), calling it a testament to their expertise in buying the right land at the right price.
"We build quality homes in places where people want to live. You can't do much better than that."
For information, call (813) 949-9273 or visit www.devonwoodvillas.com.